Button stitching machine



Sept. 26, 1967 M. PEDERSEN ETAL 3,343,508

BUTTON STITCHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

1 3 54 INVENTORS 56 7620 MATHIAS PEDERSEN 5 60 ROBERT J. COOK 50 ,3 '1763a BY ATTORNEY Sept. 26, 1967 M. PEDERSEN E AL 3,343,508

7 BUTTON STITCHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28, 1964INVENTORS MAT HIAS PEDERSEN ROBERT J. COOK ATTO EY Patented Sept. 26,196.7

3,343,508 BUTTON STITCHING MACHINE Mathias Pedersen, Valley Stream, andRobert J. Cook, Westbury, N.Y., assignors to American Machine & FoundryCompany, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Oct. 28, 1964, Ser. No.407,137 15 Claims. (Cl. 112-113) This invention relates to stitchingmachines, and more particularly to machines for stitching or sewingbuttons or like fastening devices of a wide range of sizes to articlessuch as mens and womens coats and other articles of clothing and toother selected types of goods.

The invention relates to button stitching machines preferably of thetype disclosed in Patterson et al. Patent 2,739,550; Johnson et al.Patent 3,123,613, granted May 12, 1964; Johnson et al. Patent 3,121,411,granted Feb. 18, 1964; Pedersen Patent 3,125,046, issued Mar. 17, 1964,for Work Support Table for Button Stitching Machine, and copendingJohnson application Ser. No. 296,039, filed July 18, 1963, now Patent3,236,200, for Button Stitching Machine.

In the garment trade different sizes of buttons are used with differenttypes of garments. For example, in the case of sack coats one selectedsize of button is stitched to the coat front. Generally a larger sizedbutton is attached to the coat front of an overcoat or a topcoat.

Heretofore in the art because of the variations in thickness ofmaterials to which buttons are attached and also the requirements as tosize of buttons to be used with different materials, it has not beenpossible to use a single stitching machine for attaching buttons of awide range of sizes of different diameters. The present invention solvesthis problem because it embodies mechanism which makes it possible touse buttons ranging in size from say 25 ligne to say 45 ligne by makingadaptations in the machine which can be readily and easily effected in aminimum of time. Thus, a machine embodying the present invention isextremely flexible and versatile because it can be used to attachbuttons of any selected size within the wide generally used range ofbutton sizes stitched to thin materials, and to thick materials. In thecase of thick materials, such as overcoats and topcoats, usually abutton ranging in size between 40 and 45 ligne is used, except in thecase of thin raincoats where buttons of the same size range are stitchedto the raincoat.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel button stitchingmachine having means for feeding and supporting buttons of a widelyvarying range in diameter in accordance with the type of button selectedand the kind of work to which the selected buttons are to be attached.

The invention further comprises the provision of a button stitchingmachine having novel button storing, feeding and supporting deviceswhich make it possible for the machine to stitch buttons of a wideselection of diametersizes to materials, such as mens and womens coats,vests and other articles of clothing.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in certain combinations and constructions which willbe fully described hereinafter, and then set forth specifically in theclaims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification andin which like characters of reference indicate the same or likeelements:

FIGURE 1 is a partial plan view showing a preferred form of theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation, partially in section of a button storingand feeding mechanism embodying the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of button transfer device and buttonchuck;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of button transfer andmodified form of button chuck;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of a button chamber;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a button chuck embodying theinvention;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a view taken on line 8-8 in FIGURE 7 and FIGURE 9 is a viewtaken on line 99 in FIGURE 7.

Referring to FIGURES 1-6 of the drawings which illustrate a preferredform of the invention, it will be seen that there is provided a buttonstorage designated generally 10, a button feed chute 12, a buttonreceiving and delivery chamber 14, a button transfer 16 and a buttonholding chuck 18 into which buttons B are delivered by transfer 16.Button chuck 18 is mounted on work supporting table T which is moved inthe directions of arrows A and C in timed relationship with the movementof the needle bars (not shown) which pass a threaded double pointedneedle (not shown) back and forth from one bar to the other during theformation of loops of thread attaching a button to the work or material,and the formation of wrapping about the loops of thread, and lockingstitches which complete each button stitching operation. Theseoperations take place in timed relationship with the otherinstrumentalities of the machine (not shown) in order that the desiredstitching operations incident to the attachment of each button to aselected material can be effected.

The construction and operation of the needle bars, (not shown), worktable T, work holding means, operating means for button chuck 18, buttontransfer 16, button chamber 14, thread pullers (not shown) and otheroperating mechanisms, such as specific drives are essentially the sameas disclosed in the patents above referred to. Since these mechanisms donot form a specific part of the present invention, the disclosure hereinhas been limited to that which is considered necessary to a fullunderstanding of the invention.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, button storage 10 comprises an inclinedgenerally V-shaped button rack 20 attached by screws 22 to the machineframe F. The space between walls 24 is designed to allow rack 20 toaccommodate the largest diameter size of button which normally isrequired. For example, rack 20 can hold 45 ligne buttons. A ligne isequal to .025 inch. Therefore, rack 20 can hold buttons 1%" in diameter.

An adapter 26 is provided for adapting rack 20 to hold smaller diameterbuttons. It is also generally V-shaped in cross section (see FIGURE 1).Two longitudinally spaced aligned pins 28, 29 are carried on theunderside of adapter 26. Each pin is provided with two spaced annulargrooves 30, 32. The grooves of pin 28 may be seated in a closed keyhole36; those in pin 29 seat in open keyhole 34. Both keyholes 34 and 36 areformed in the flat central elongated web portion 25 of rack 20. Adapter26 is mounted in rack 20 by extending pin 28 downwardly through the wideopening part of keyhole 36 and pin 29 downwardly into the open part ofkeyhole 34 until a selected inner and outer pair of grooves 30 or 32 ispositioned therein. Adapter 26 is then pushed longitudinally relative torack 20 such that grooves 30 or 32, as the case may be, slide betweenthe spaced walls of the narrow portions of keyholes 34, 36 until theyengage the bottom faces thereof, whereby adapter 26 is seated in rack 20for supporting a smaller size of button. When grooves 30 in pins 28 and29 engage keyholes 36 and 34, respectively, a range of buttons from, say28 to 34 ligne, can be stored and fed therefrom for attachment to aselected material. When grooves 32 engage in keyholes 36 and 34 a rangeof button sizes between say 20 and 26 ligne can be stored. It will beapparent from a consideration of FIGURES 1 and 2, that rack 20 alone,and also with adapter 26 can store a supply of buttons suflicient forattachment to several selected garments. The actual quantity dependsupon the length of rack 20 and adapter 26.

'In practice buttons are stacked in rack 10, face down. Amember 38having a guard 40 located in front of rack 20 limits the ejection ofbuttons therefrom to one at a time. Member 38 is pivotally supported inblock 42 suitably attached to delivery plate 44 over which a button Bslides downwardly into button chute 12 when ejected by ejector 46 fromthe bottom of rack 20. An ad justing screw 35 threadably supported inblock 42 is provided with a conical cam point 37 located beneath member38. When screw 35 is turned one way or the other, member 38 is raised orlowered by cam point 37 and guard 40 is thereby disposed in properadjusted position determined by the run of buttons to be attached to thework. Screw 35 is provided with a polygonal collar 39, hexagonal in theform shown, formed integrally therewith or suitably attached thereto. Afiat spring 41 mounted on block 42 presses against one face of collar39'and prevents screw 35 from turning from its selected adjustedposition.

The button chute'and means for ejecting a button from rack 20 aregenerally the' same as disclosed in Johnson et al. Patent 3,121,411.Therefore, only such showing as is required for a complete understandingof the invention and its relation thereto is illustrated and describedherein.

Button ejector 46 is carried on the free end of arm 48 fixed to shaft 50rotatably supported in suitable bearings formed in bracket 52 mounted onframe F of the machine. A 'cam lever 54 secured to the lower end ofshaft 0 carries cam follower 56 which engages wedge-shaped cam piece 58carried by horizontal bar 60. Bar 60 is moved forwardly in the mannershown and described in Johnson et a1. Patent 3,121,411 in proper timedsequence during the operation 'of the machine to engage and disengagecam piece 58 with cam follower '56 and :ca'useejector 46 to eject abutton B from rack 10. A'spring (not shown) returns bar 60 to itsinoperative position after each button ejectment. The 'plane of thelower edge of rack 20 is disposed slightly above the plane of the topsurface of ejector 46. The plane of the lower edge of "guard 40 is alsodisposed slightly above the plane of the top surface of ejector 46. Theplane of the lower edge of guard 40 clears the top surface of thelowermost button in rack 20 in order to engage the button just above thelowermost button. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the position of ejector 46 justafter the lowermost button has been ejected and just before ejector 46moves away from guard 40 to allow the next button to fall in front ofejector 46.

Button chute 12 in the form shown herein comprises an elongated opengenerally U-shaped 'trough 62 into which buttons slide from deliveryplate 44, and gravitate into button well '64 in button chamber 14located at the lower end of chute 12 where it is held by gate 84 untilit is delivered to button transfer 16 for delivery to chuck 18.

Buttons are made in many sizes. Commonly used sizes range between 20ligne to and including 45 ligne. In the rade there are three basicranges in size. These are 20-26 ligne, 28-34 ligne and 3645 ligne.

Heretofore, machines available for stitching buttons have been what canbe termed a one purpose button stitching machine because the size ofbuttons it could handle was limited. In accordance with the invention,provisions are made which make it possible to adapt and convert a buttonstitching machine capable of attaching a two hole or four hole button ofany size over a wide range of button sizes with a minimum of effort andexpenditure of time.

It has been found that buttons most used are 24, 30, and ligne. Inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention, four readilyinterchangeable button chambers for handling these sizes of buttons areprovided. As shown in FIGURE 5, chamber 14 is designed to handle say a24 ligne button. If a larger size is to be handled, the 24 ligne chamberis removed and rapidly replaced by a chamber capable of handling theselected button size. The mechanism which is disclosed herein foradapting the button stitching machine of which it forms a part to handlea wide range of button sizes coacts with mechanisms disclosed in ourcopending applications Ser. No. 7

407,083 and Ser. No. 407,138, both filed 'on Oct. 28, 1964, for ButtonStitching Machines, respectively. All of which mechanisms contribute toprovision of a button stitching machine having great versatility andflexibility heretofore unknown in the art.

Although four chambers 14 are suggested as satisfying most practicalrequirements, as many can be provided as are required within practicallimits of the machine.

Button chambers 14 are identical in construction and only one isdescribed in detail. Referring to FIGURES 1 and 5, chamber 14 isprovided with a mounting extension 76 having an elongated recess 78formed in one face thereof. The height and depth of recess 78 is suchthat arm portion 68 of lever 70 seats snugly therein when a selectedchamber 14 is installed in the machine. The selected chamber 14 (FIGURE5) comprises a body 71 and is held in operative position on lever 70 bymeans of screw 80 thread-ably secured in aligned threaded 'holes in armportion 68 and extension 76 of body 71. Each of the 'several chambersreferred to above which are interchangeably mounted 'in the machine isprovided with a similar threaded hole in its extension 76 and afterextension 76 is seated against shoulder 79 of lever 70, screw 80 istightened to secure it in operative position. This construction makes itpossible to effect the rapid removal of one chamber 14 and itsreplacement with another with a minimum of effort and expenditure oftime.

longitudinal movement therein. Button B is held in posi tion between therear wall'of chamber 14 and a movably mounted gate 84, awaiting transferfrom chamber 14. In

the illustrated embodiment gate 84 is a curved member Chamber 14 ismoved from receiving position where, it receives a button from chute 62clockwise, as viewed,

in FIGURE 1, to a position where it delivers the button to transfer 16.This movement is effected by means of a lever 96 attached to shaft 72supporting on its free end a cam follower 98. A spring 190 having oneend attached to lever 70 and its other end attached to a pin in theframe of the machine maintains cam follower 98 in engagement with'cam102 mounted on bar 60. It will be evident that when bar 60 movesrearwardly (upwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 1), cam follower 98 whichengages the high portion of cam 102 when chamber 14 is in the positionshown in FIGURE 1, will travel downwardly onto the low portion of cam102, whereupon spring 100 will effect the movement of chamber '14 to itsbutton transfer position.

Upon movement of bar 60 in the opposite direction and the engagement ofcam follower 98 with the high portion of cam 102, chamber 14 is returnedto the position shown in FIGURE 1. At this time a resilient presserfinger 104 suitably attached to the frame of the machine is engaged byweight 94 which is moved thereby towards chamber 14. This movement ofweight 94 causes gate 84 to be swung up into operative position withrespect to well 64 where it coacts with the rear wall of well 64 tosupport the next button entering well 64 properly for delivery totransfer 16.

A gate finger 106 pivotally mounted on shaft 108 supported in bracket110 prevents button jams, and insures that only one button at a time canroll into well 64. The free end of finger 106 extends transverselythrough a notch 112 in chamber 14. Spring 114 having one end attached tofinger 106 and its other end fixed to bracket 116 carried by the machineframe normally maintains finger 106 in its operative position in notch112. In the same manner as described and shown in Johnson et al. Patent3,121,411, finger 106 is raised and lowered to control the movement ofbuttons into well 64.

The mechanism for effecting the delivery of a button from a chamber 14to button transfer '16 is generally the same as that shown and describedin Johnson et al. Patent 3,121,411. Therefore, the description anddisclosure herein is limited to only as much as is necessary to a fullunderstanding of the invention. As in the machine described and shown inthis patent, depression of treadle 120 which is connected by suitablelinkage to lever 122 attached to shaft 124 causes the latter to rock insuch manner that bar 60 moves rearwardly or upwardly as viewed inFIGURE 1. This action disengages the high portion of cam 102 from camfollower 98 and allows spring 100 to swing chamber 14 into buttondelivery position with respect to transfer 16.

After the first of a series of buttons to be attached to the work hasbeen delivered to transfer 16, subsequent buttons are deliveredautomatically. This operation is effected in the same manner as thatdisclosed and described in Johnson et al. Patent 3,121,411 by means ofcam 126 fixed to shaft 128 which makes one complete revolution duringeach stitching operation of the machine. Cam 126 is tracked by camfollower 130 carried by lever 132 from which extends an adjustable stud134 operative to engage block 136 fixed to lever 138 in the same manneras described in the above referred to patent. Substantially concurrentlywith the movement of chamber 14 to button delivery position relative totransfer 16 the button supporting and injecting head 153 of transfer 16is rotated in order to allow hooked button supporting pins 148 to becomealigned with the holes of the button to be transferred such that aschamber 14 moves forwardly a button carried thereby can be pushed ontohooked button supporting pins 148 where the button remains as chamber 14moves back to its button receiving position shown in FIGURE 1.

Button transfer 16 includes a gear segment 150 meshing with gear 152 onbutton injecting head 153 which supports button carrier pins 148.Segment 150 is oscillated in order to align pins 148 with the holes of abutton when each button is to be delivered by chamber 14 onto pins 148.This oscillation is effected manually by treadle 120, and linkageconnected to lever 122 on shaft 124 for the first of a series ofstitching cycles to attach a run of buttons to selected garments.Orientation of pins 148 and delivery of buttons therein is also effectedautomatically by means of a connecting rod 172 pivotally secured at oneend to segment 150, and loosely connected at its other end to anL-shaped horizontal member 176 attached to lever 136 on shaft 124.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, it Will be seen that button transfer 16comprises a sleeve in which is reciprocably slidably mounted anelongated plunger (not shown) which supports the button orienting andsupporting pins 148. Resilient pins 148 are formed with hooks on theirfree ends in order to receive, support and prevent button from beingremoved therefrom until it is lodged between the jaws of button chuck 18described more in detail hereinafter. Bevel gear 152 which meshes withgear segment is fixedly attached to head 153. Gear 152 is provided witha reduced hub 154. In accordance with the invention, means are providedwhich make it possible to successfully transfer buttons of a wide rangeof sizes from chamber 14 to button chuck 18. In the novel structureshown in FIGURE 3 button transfer 16 is designed for holding andtransferring a button less than 40 ligne in size. Head 153 is providedwith an adapter ring 156 secured thereto by a set screw (not shown). Theinner diameter of ring 156 engages head 153 and the inner-diametershoulder 155 of ring 156 engages pins 148 as shown in the cut-awayportion of ring 156 in FIG. 3. The outer diameter of ring 156 is of asize such that when a button is seated on pins 148 the rim on the top orexposed side of a button will rest against the exposed edges of ring156, and not against the face of a button. This is important in properhandling of buttons and buttons for delivery into button chuck 18inasmuch as the faces of buttons can vary quite considerably, andaccuracy in handling cannot otherwise be obtained. In button chuck 18disclosed in FIGURE 3, jaws 160 and 162 are formed to hold a button ofless than 40 ligne size.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, the construction and operation of buttontransfer 16 is the same as that described hereinabove. The onlydifference is that a different type of adapter ring 164 is provided inorder to adapt the machine for stitching buttons of 40-45 ligne. Adapterring 164 is secured by a suitable set screw 158 to head 153. It isprovided with a beveled outer face 165 and a button rim contacting face166 having an outer diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of therim of a button such that the collar can engage the rim only on the faceof a button for the same reasons given above. Button chuck 18 is thesame as that disclosed in FIG- URES 1 and 3 with the exception that thejaws 160a and 162a which have a no-offset type of holding means 161a and163a, respectively, are designed to hold a button of the 40-45 lignerange.

In the button transfer mechanism disclosed in FIG- URES 3 and 4 thedesign is such that transfer head 153 can support adapter rings suitablefor handling all sizes of buttons referred to hereinabove. In general,however, it has been found that two rings which enable the machine tohandle 2430 and 40-45 ligne buttons, respectively, will answer mostnormal practical requirements.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 6 it is to be noted that button chuck 18 issupported in a bracket suitably mounted on table T which is moved duringthe operation of the machine along lateral, longitudinal and diagonalpaths of travel in order to allow the machine to perform the necessarystitching operations in the attachment of a button to the work. Themechanism for operating the table forms no specific part of theinvention, it can be the same as disclosed in Pedersen Patent 3,125,046or Patterson et al. Patent 2,739,550. and therefore no furtherdescription or disclosure is considered to be necessary to anunderstanding of its operation.

The construction and operation of button chuck 18 is essentially thesame as that disclosed in Johnson et al. Patent 3,121,411 with theexception that novel means are provided for making it possible to handlea complete range of button sizes in the three ranges describedhereinabove without the necessity of removing and replacing the entirebutton chuck in order to effect the desired changeover from one sizebutton to another.

Button chuck 18 comprises two suitably shaped jaws 161 162 having buttonmeans 161, 163, respectively, slidingly supported in a housing or member200 secured to a swivel head 202 rotatably mounted in bracket 180.Swivel head 202 is provided with a stud shaft (not shown) to which issecured a gear (not shown) and driving means (not shown) for moving head202 and chuck jaws 160, 162 from vertical button receiving position,horizontal stitching position and vertical position for completion ofstitching operations by the same mechanism as disclosed in Johnson etal. 3,121,411. The means for opening jaws 160 and 162 to receive abutton therebetween and to release it after stitching operations havebeen completed also are the, same as described and claimed in saidJohnson et al. patent.

In accordance with the invention, housing 200 is provided with aremovable face plate 204, normally held in operative assembled positionby screws 206 in housing 200. This housing also is formed with twoparallel grooves 208, 210 in which slidable extensions 212 and 214 onjaws 160 and 162, respectively, are mounted for sliding movement to andfrom each other for receiving, holding and releasing buttons.

Actuating lever 216, which corresponds to lever 216, disclosed inJohnson et al. Patent 3,121,411 and operates in the same manner, isprovided with two half pins 218, 220 which engage in recesses 222, 224in extensions 212, 214 of jaws 160 and 162. The depth of the recesses isgreater than the maximum interrupted diameter of pins 218, 220 toprovide for the desired freedom of movement of jaws 160, 162 withoutbinding. Lever 216 is fulcrumed on pin 226 mounted in a central lug inhousing 200. Jaws 160 and 162 are operated by actuating bar 230 similarto bar 230 disclosed in said Johnson et a1. Patent 3,212,411, whichengages lever 216 when jaws 160, 162 are disposed in button receiving orreleasing positions.

Jaws 160 and 162 are modelled so as to cover the entire range of buttonsfrom say 20-45 ligne. In the case of buttons ranging from say 20-39ligne, jaws 160, 162 are formed with an offset arrangement as shown inFIG- URES 3 and 6. In the case of buttons from 40-45 ligne, theconstruction shown in FIGURE 4 is used. Extensions 212 and 214 on eachcorresponding jaw are the same in order to provide for their slidingseated operative mounting in housing.

When a selected set of jaws has been mounted in housing 200 shown inFIGURE 6-, cover plate 204 is seated on housing 200 with screws 206extending upwardly through recess 207 and keyh'ole opening 209. Plate204 is moved to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 6, to engage one screw 206in reduced opening portion 211, after which screws 206 are turned hometo secure plate 204 in proper assembled relation on housing 200. Theadapted chuck 18 is then ready for use in accordance with its selectedbutton size. Any desired interchange of pairs-of jaws can readily andrapidly be made in the manner described.

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 disclose a modified form of button receiving anddelivery mechanism embodying the invention. This mechanism is capable ofhandling the entire range in size of buttons discussed hereinabove. Thatis, it can receive, hold and deliver to transfer 16 buttons ranging from20 ligne to 45 ligne. If smaller or large buttons were selected for useit could be designed to handle them also. As shown in FIGURES 7 and 8,this mechanism comprises a chamber designated generally 250, having abody portion 252 and a mounting extension 254 preferably formedintegrally therewith. An elongated recess 256 formed in one face ofextension 254 has an extension 254 such that it can be mounted on armportion 68 of lever 70 and secured thereon by screw 80, as in the caseof a selected button chamber 14. Chamber 250 is moved clockwise, asviewed in FIGURE 7, by spring 100' from button receiving position todelivery position relative to button transfer 16 as the result of themovement of cam 102 upwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 7, and thedisplacement of cam follower 98 onto low cam portion 103. This action isthe same as that of chamber 14.

Referring to FIGURE 8, a button delivered by chute 62 comes to rest inreceiving well 256 formed by the rear wall of body 252, outwardlyextending lugs 258 and 260, and arcuate lug 262, all arranged along theperiphery of a circle of which the center of opening 263 is the centerof the circle. Opening 263, as in the case of opening 83 in a chamber 14provides space for the projection of pins 148 as they extend through theholes of a button during its pick-up and transfer from a chamber tobutton transfer 16.

Each button B received in well 256 comes to rest with its bottom sideresting against the rear wall of well 256 and its bottom and front edgeportions resting against arcuate lug 262 and on button lug 260 of bodyportion 252. In the case of a 45 ligne button or the largest size buttonwhich it is desired to handle, chamber 250 is so constructed that thisbutton is loosely centrally located between lugs 258, 260 and 268 readyfor transfer from chamber 250 to pins 148 of transfer 16. A bottom gate264 and an auxiliary gate 265 coact with the rear wall of Well 256 inholding a button therein until it is delivered to transfer 16. Gates 264and 265 form angular extensions on an elongated on an elongated rod 266loosely rotatably mounted in lugs 268 of a bracket attached to bodyportion 252 of chamber 250. A weight 270 fixed to rod 266 tends normallyto bias gates 264 and 265 downwardly to inoperative positions away fromwell 256. A resilient finger 272 mounted on frame F of the machine isengaged by weight 270' as chamber 250 moves from transfer position tobutton receiving position shown in FIGURE 7, and causes gates 264, 265to move up to operative positions. As in the case of gate 84, shown inFIGURES l and 5, fingers 84 and 272 have suflicient resiliency to allowtheir respective chambers 14 and 250 to travel part of the distance fromthe positions shown in FIGURES l and 7 towards transfer 16 beforeweights 94 and 270 are freed and cause gates 84 and 264, 265 to dropaway from their operative positions, at which time a button is about tobe delivered to transfer 16.

An important feature of chamber 250 is the provision of means whichinsure that, regardless of the size of button within a predeterminedrange of sizes, say 20-45 ligne, each size of button selected will beheld and disposed in proper centrallized relationship for delivery to.transfer 16. Referring to FIGURES 7 and 8, chamber 250 is provided witha pair of opposed button gripping and centering fingers 274 and 276.Finger 274 which is pivotally mounted on pin 278 on body portion 252 isprovided with an extension 280 having an oversized opening 282 of'anysuitable shape through which loosely extends a coupling pin 283 whichalso extends through a circular opening (not shown) in extension 286forming a part of finger 276 pivoted at 288 on body 252. A Spring 290having its ends attached to brackets on fingers 274, 276 normallymaintain the free ends 292, 294 of fingers274, 276 spaced apart forreception of a button therebetween.

The free end of each finger 274, 276 is provided with two inwardlydirected spaced lugs 296 which straddle lugs 258 and 260. Theconstruction just described functions to engage lug 296 with oppositesides of a button when an operating extension 298 on finger 276 isdepressed by actuating lever 300. A stop pin carried by body 252 limitsthe extent of opening of finger 274, 276. The movement of the free endsof fingers 274, 276 towards each other is equal and uniform. ThusWhenever operating extension 298 is depressed, a button located betweenlugs 296 is centrallized by fingers 274, 276 in chamber 250 and heldtherein ready for delivery thereby to transfer 16. Operating lever 300is fixed to shaft 302 rotatably mounted in bracket 304 secured in apredetermined adjusted position by screw306 to bracket arm 308 on frameF. An actuating lever 310' is attached to one end of shaft 302. As shownmore in detail in FIGURE 9, lever 300 is loosely mounted on shaft 302.It is provided with a slotted opening 312 through which extends a screw314 threadably 9 mounted in lever 316 attached to shaft 302. The head318 of screw 314 is located on the underside of lever 300. A spring 320encircling screw 314 biases levers 300 and 316 apart, thereby providingmeans for effecting the desired yielding of lever 300 in closing offingers 274, 276 depending upon the size of button being handled.

The clockwise movement of chamber 250, as viewed in FIGURE 7, todelivery position relative to transfer 16 is effected by bar 60 and cam58 in the same manner as described hereinabove in connection withchamber 14, and also as shown and described in Johnson et al., Patent3,121,411. However, in the form shown in FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, additionalmechanism is provided to actuate lever 390. This mechanism comprises abracket 322 attached by one of the screws 61 which secure cam 162 to bar61 A cam piece 324 is loosely swingably mounted in bracket 322. As bar60 moves rearwardly, or upwardly as viewed in FIGURE 7, high portion 325of cam piece 324 engages actuating lever 310 and causes lever 301} whichrests on extension 298 to move downwardly and close fingers 274, 276whereby a button in well 256 will be held centrallized between spacedlugs 296. The design is such that a button is so held for a period oftime sufficient to allow chamber 250 to move into delivery positionrelative to transfer 16 at which time the tip 311 of actuating lever 310rides off cam piece 324, and fingers 274, 276 are opened by spring 290.On the return movement of bar 60, tip 311 slides over cam portion 325 ofcam piece 324 which yields upwardly against the gravity bias thereof,and comes to rest in position to actuate fingers 274, 276 when thebutton is to be delivered.

Jaws 160, 162 of button chuck 18 shown in FIGURE 3 are provided withbutton holding elements 161, 163 which are offset rearwardly from theplane of jaws 161}, 162, or away from transfer 16, as viewed in FIGURE3. This construction is provided in order that a button of a selectedsize, say 24 ligne, will be supported on pins 148 of transfer 16 andlocated thereon by adapter ring 156 the proper distance above and fromthe work when it is being attached thereto. In the modified button chuckjaws 160a and162a shown in FIGURE 4, button holding elements 161a and163a lie in the plane of jaws 160a and 162a. This is because they aredesigned to support a larger size button, say 404S ligne for attachmentto the work which is supported on pins 148 and located by adapter ring164 for proper transfer thereto. Since this range in size of buttonsusually is attached to relatively heavy materials, longer loops ofthread are required. This is accomplished by supporting a button agreater distance from the material by jaws, such as 1600 and 162a.

As shown in FIGURE 3, adapter ring 156 is provided with an inwardlydirected shoulder 155. This shoulder presses against resilient orflexible pins 148 and moves them radially inwardly to predeterminedoperative positions corresponding with the spacing of holes in buttonsof the smaller ranges of sizes, say up to 34 ligne. Shoulder 155 may beof any suitable length. However, it has been found that in adapting themachine to stitching buttons to a mans sack coat, an offset for jaws 161162 of one-eighth A3) inch gives satisfactory results. Thus the lengthof shoulder 155 can be one-eighth A3) inch long in order to cooperateproperly with holding means 161, 163 of jaws 166, 162. This constructionmakes it possible to adapt the machine as desired without the loss ofconsiderable time in resetting transfer device 16 or attaching buttonsto work by the same length of loops of thread, which would be entirelyunsatisfactory.

In the case of adapter ring 164, shown in FIGURE 4, the ring has noeffect upon the position of pins 148 and their outward radial movementis constrained by the inner surface of head 153. Ring 164, however, isnarrower than ring 156 and performs the function described hereinabove.It also serves as a seat for buttons to be transferred into holdingmeans 161:: and 163a of jaws 166a, 162a.

What we claim is:

1. In a button stitching machine including a button rack for holding astack of buttons, a guard member, means mounting said member adjacentsaid rack to prevent the removal of more than one button at a time fromsaid stack, a button ejector, and means for operating said ejector toeffect the delivery of a single button from said rack;

the combination with said "button holding rack of a button adapterwherein said button holding rack can accommodate a range of size ofbuttons, and said button adapter can hold a range of size of buttonsdifferent from that which can be held by said rack alone, and means formounting said adapter within said rack, whereby said different range ofbutton sizes can be fed by said ejector from said rack.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said adapter can support aplurality of ranges of button sizes, and said mounting means for saidadapter comprise means for securing said adapter in selected operativepositions within said rack determinative by the range of button sizes tobe stored in said rack and fed therefrom, with said securing meansdisposed within said rack.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said rack comprises anelongated generally U-shaped trough having a flat central elongatedportion located between the walls of said U, and said adapter is anelongated generally U- shaped trough corresponding generally incross-section to said rack, mounting means formed in said flat portionof said rack, and wherein said mounting means for said adapter comprisemeans carried on the underside of said adapter coacting with saidmounting means in said fiat portion of said rack to secure said adapterin a plurality of operative positions in said rack with the walls ofsaid adapter substantially parallel to the walls of said rack.

4. In a button stitching machine including a button rack for holding astack of buttons, a guard member, means mounting said member adjacentsaid rack to prevent the removal of more than one button at a time fromsaid stack, a button ejector, and means for operating said ejector toeffect the delivery of a single button from said rack, and including abutton chute, means for delivering a button ejected from said rack intosaid chute, a plurality of selectively usable button delivery chambersfor holding a button delivered thereto by said chute, a mount for aselected button delivery chamber, means for securing said selectedbutton chamber suitable for holding a selected size of button to saidmount, and means for delivering a button from said chute into saidselected chamber;

the combination with said chamber of a button transfer device, meansdetachably mounted on said device for adapting said device to receive aselected size of button from saidselected chamber, a button chuck forholding said selected size of button, means for connecting said chamberto a drive means for moving said chamber to deliver a button therefromto said transfer device, means for connecting said transfer device to adrive means for moving said transfer device with a button carriedthereby for delivery to said button chuck.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said means for adapting saidbutton transfer device includes a plurality of selectively usable ringsfor adapting said transfer device to support and carry buttons ofdiflferent sizes, and means detachably mounting a selected ring on saidtransfer device for efiecting the transfer of buttons of a selectedsize.

6. The invention defined in claim 5 wherein transfer device includes aplurality of resilient button supporting pins, and each selected ringcoacts with said pins to position said pins to enter the holes of aselected size of button and support said button thereon for delivery tosaid l 1 button chuck, said chuck comprising spaced opposed jawspositioned to support buttons of said selected size a predetermineddistance above and from the material to which said button is to beattached.

7. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said button chuck comprisesa body portion and a pair of opposed button holding jaws, and meansdetachably mounting said jaws in said body portion for use orreplacement by a pair of jaws capable of holding buttons of a differentselected size.

8. In a button stitching machine including a button rack for holding astack of buttons, a guard member, means mounting said member adjacentsaid rack to prevent the removal of more than one button at a time fromsaid stack, a button ejector, and means for operating said ejector toeffect the delivery of a single button from said rack, and including abutton chute, means for delivering a button ejected from said rack intosaid chute, a plurality of selectively usable button delivery chambersfor holding a button delivered thereto by said chute, a mount for aselected button delivery chamber, means for securing said selectedbutton chamber suitable for holding a selected size of button to saidmount, and means for delivering a button from said chute into saidselected chamber, and including a button transfer device, meansdetachably mounted on said device for adapting said device to receive aselected size of button from said selected chamber, a button chuck forholding said selected size of button, means for moving said chamber todeliver a button therefrom to said transfer device, means for movingsaid transfer device with a button carried thereby to a point oftransfer relative to said button chuck, and means for effecting thedelivery of said button from said transfer device into said button chuckand wherein said button transfer device includes a plurality ofselectively usable rings for adapting said transfer device to supportand carry buttons of different sizes, and means detachably mounting aselected ring on said transfer device for effecting the transfer ofbuttons of a selected size, and said transfer device also includes aplurality of resilient button supporting pins, and each selected ringcoacts with said pins to position said pins to enter the holes of aselected size of button and support said button thereon for delivery tosaid button chuck, said chuck comprising spaced opposed jaws positionedto support buttons of said selected size a predetermined distance aboveand from the material to which said button is to be attached;

the combination with said button transfer device of said chuck whereinsaid button chuck comprises a body portion and a set or opposed buttonholding jaws, fastening means detachably mounting said set of jaws insaid body portion for use with one selected size of button orreplacement by another set of jaws capable of holding a differentselected size of button, and wherein a plurality of sets of jawsincludes button holding means coplanar with the body of said jaws forcertain selected sizes of buttons, and other sets of jaws provided withbutton holding means offset from the plane of the bodies of said jawsfor holding a range of smaller sizes of buttons held therein closer tothe material to which it is to be attached.

9. In a button stitching machine including a button chuck and a tablemounting said chuck movable in a plurality of paths in a single planefor positioning a button and the material to which it is to be attachedin a plurality of stitching positions in accordance wih a predeterminedstitching pattern, said chuck comprising a body portion, a plurality ofsets of selectively usable opposed button holding jaws, means fordetachably securing a selected set of jaws on said body whereby buttonsof a selected size can be held for attachment to said material, andmeans for moving said jaws away from each other to position a buttonthere-between and to release a stitched button therefrom;

the combination of said sets of jaws with said means for detachablysecuring a selected set of jaws on said body wherein said sets of jawsinclude jaw members, each having a planar body portion and opposedbutton holding elements substantially coplanar with said body portions,said sets of jaws also including jaw members having body portions withbutton ho1d ing elements longitudinally offset from said lastnamed bodyportions.

10. The invention defined in claim 9 including a button transfer devicecoacting with said button chuck to transfer buttons into said jaws ofsaid chuck, said transfer device comprising a movable body portion, abutton supporting head having a plurality of button supporting pins, aselectively usable adapting ring, means mounting I said ring on saidhead for positioning said pins for entry into the holes of one range insize of buttons for use in delivering buttons to said sets of jawswherein said button holding elements are substantially coplanar with thebody portions thereof, and another adapting ring for mounting on saidhead for moving said pins closer together for entry into the holes inbuttons in a range of size smaller than said first-named range of sizebuttons when said transfer device is to transfer buttons to said ofisetbutton holding elements.

11. The invention defined in claim 10 including a plurality of buttonholding and delivering chambers, means for delivering buttons of aselected size in succession from a source of supply to a selectedchamber capable of holding said selected size of button, and means formoving said chamber relative to said transfer. device to effect thedelivery of a button from said chamber to said transfer device.

12. A button transfer device comprising a head, a plurality of resilientbutton supporting pins mounted in said head and extending outwardlytherefrom, said head having a portion encircling a portion of said pinsto limit their outward flexing to positions corresponding with thespacing of holes in a range of buttons of the largest sizes to behandled by said device, and an adapter ring adapted to be mounted onsaid means for effecting the radial inward movement of said pins tooperative positions corresponding to the spacing of holes in a range ofbuttons of smaller sizes.

13. The invention defined in claim 12 wherein said adapter ring has ashoulder portion engaging said pins to force them radially inwardly, andsaid adapter ring has means for securing said ring in operativeposition.

14. A button receiving and delivering chamber comprising a body portion,a button well formed in said body portion, means for delivering a buttonof any selected size to said well, opposed centralizing fingers in saidwell, actuating means for moving said fingers into engagement withopposite sides of said button to center and hold said button in centeredposition in said well, means coacting with said fingers to support saidbutton in said well, and said actuating means having means for releasingsaid fingers from said button when said button is delivered from saidwell of said chamber.

15. The invention defined in claim 14 including a button transfer devicehaving a rotatable head and a plurality of flexible button supportingpins projecting therefrom, selective means for adapting said transferdevice to handle a wide range of sizes of buttons comprising adaptingrings mountable on said head for conforming the spacing of said pins tothe hole spacing of a selected size of button, and means for moving saidchamber towards 13 14 said transfer device to efiect the delivery ofsaid button 2,398,659 4/1946 Mead 221239 X onto said pins of saidtransfer device. 2,576,366 11/1951 Smith 221236 X 2,843,069 7/1958Halbreich 221-239 X Referenc s Cited 3,121,411 2/1964 Johnson et a1. 112110 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 3,246,618 4/1966 Johnson et a1 112-410294,037 2/1884 Hegeman et a1 112-113 685,-815 11/1901 Chilton v 112 113X JORDAN FRANKLIN Prmary Exammer' 1 315 531 9 1919 Scott 294 99 X G.KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner.

2,385,521 9/1945 Mead 221-239 X

1. IN A BUTTON STITCHING MACHINE INCLUDING A BUTTON RACK FOR HOLDING ASTACK OF BUTTONS, A GUARD MEMBER, MEANS MOUNTING SAID MEMBER ADJACENTSAID RACK TO PREVENT THE REMOVAL OF MORE THAN ONE BUTTON AT A TIME FROMSAID STACK, A BUTTON EJECTOR, AND MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID EJECTOR TOEFFECT THE DELIVERY OF A SINGLE BUTTON FROM SAID RACK; THE COMBINTAIONWITH SAID BUTTON HOLDING RACK OF A BUTTON ADAPTER WHEREIN SAID BUTTONHOLDING RACK CAN ACCOMMODATE A RANGE OF SIZE OF BUTTONS, AND SAID BUTTONADAPTER CAN HOLD A RANGE OF SIZE OF BUTTONS DIFFERENT FROM THAT WHICHCAN BE HELD BY SAID RACK ALONE, AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID ADAPTERWITHIN SAID RACK, WHEREBY SAID DIFFERENT RANGE OF BUTTON SIZES CAN BEFED BY SAID EJECTOR FROM SAID RACK.